Full of Wonder

Happy Monday :-)

This week I've created a 3d tag... I've used the size 8 tag. I began by applying lots of layers of paints and stains to the tag until I liked the effect.
I coloured the blank seed packet from the AO set 'bloom and grow' with the same colours then edged with a dark chalk ink.

 The boy image comes from the AO set 'think and wonder' I cut him out of the advert and then used what was left of the ad in the upper right corner.

The bicycle and the quote both come from the AO set 'lovely day'

Life's a Circus

This week I've made a little arch (thanks to Deb for sending me some of these diecuts)

I've used Mustard Seed distress stain for the background. I stamped one of the Circus dogs and the podium from Lost Coast onto card and cut out and coloured with watercolours. The yellow background is stamped with blue chalk ink and the Whimsical Melange set from Artistic Outpost. the flowers are from another Artistic Outpost set Serenity. I stamped these onto card, cut out and coloured in. Finally edged with some chalk ink.

TFL

Mandy x

Drama Queen Tag By Moira Sutton

Larger sized tag using  Distress stains in shades of Dusty Concord and Brushed Pewter in the wrinkle free method for the background. Over stamped with Glitz stamps in Dusty Concord Distress Ink. The main image used is a Teesha Moore Zetti stamp. It has been edged with Graphite Ferro through a Chequered Dots Dylusions Stencil.

The current challenge is A spooky theme for Halloween full detail can be seen here on the BLOG.

Gilded cage by moira Sutton

Main Image is by Scrolls Work
Background is Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain
The leaves are using an Emboss it Dabber through Dylusions Luscious Leaves Stencil and then embossed with Antiquities Embossing powder.
The Bird and the Flower have both been coloured using Verday Paints.

Dont forget this months challenge is Steampunkery, full details of how to enter can be seen on the blog post HERE.

We're off to see the Wizard

This week I'm paying a visit to Oz .... Wizard of Oz is one of my fave films, so just had to have a play with this set from Artistic Outpost featuring the characters.
I've made a set of 3 ATC's.... to get the bright yellow background I used Distress Stain in Mustard Seed. Wonderful yellow to represent the yellow brick road, I overstamped that with a grey Jenni Bowlin paint dabber and some Tim Holtz bitty stamps.

 Thanks for looking
Mandy ♥

A Shore thing.... by Julie Dandy

Moira has just got these fabby frames in this week and I <3 them :D

I altered mine with TH distress stains and crackle paint and a bit of bling with distress stickles.

The images are Artistic Outpost Beyond the Sea which were perfect for this months water themed challenge :D

The images were stamped on to Claudine hellmuths sticky backed canvas with archival ink and coloured with distress inkpads.
The TH muse token was coloured with stream and snow cap alcohol ink to give a patina effect.

 Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Paris Exposition Vanity Box By Carol Fox

I have used the Artistic Outpost stamps Paris Exposition and French Flight to alter this Box. The Box is one of the Vanity Boxes available from the shop.

The background has been created by using a crackle paint background, I found the blue was too bright when this was done, so I applied a coat of Picket Fence distress stain which gave it a lovely aged look.

Viva Inka Gold in Hematite was applied through a crafters Workshop Stencil.

All the stamping was done using black archival ink.

Acrylic fragments and arrows were added to the lid.

The challenge this month is "March To Your Own Tune" use anything musical. For full details of the challenge have a look HERE

Santa stop here...... by Julie Dandy

This week I was inspired by T!ms 12 days of Christmas day 4 tag but made it in to a Santa stop here door hanger.

I started by covering my wooden door hanger with Pink Paislee Santas list patterned paper.
I inked it with and then splattered and spritzed on water to give a nice mottled grungey look.

I used Viva decor Inka Gold on the wooden edges which I found easiest to apply with a semi dry baby wipe.

Th ruffle on the bottom is made with pleated tissue tape - I put a piece of double sided tape on to the base first then pleated the tape along it.

My lace was coloured by putting distress stain on to my nonstick craft sheet, adding a little water to soften the colour and squishing the lace in to it until I was happy with the coverage.
I glued it down with Claudine's matte medium.

I ran a piece of acetate through my big shot with the TH snowflake border embossing folder and cut around the snowflakes.
I attached this with a little DST along the edge that would be hidden by my embellishments.

My snowman and snowflakes were cut from grunge board then painted with pearl acrylic paint dabber.
I coated the snowman with Rock Candy crackle glaze and left it to dry thoroughly , when dry I highlighted the cracks with distress inks.
I added the snowflakes with glossy accents and added buttons to the centres.
I tied some scraps of ribbon and fabric round his neck for a scarf and dangled some buttons strung together with jump rings from it, then attached him to the hanger with foam tape to add some dimension.

My little sign was hand written on to the back of an journalling ticket and pinned on with a memo pin

The last thing I did was smear on lashings of Rock Candy distress stickles to give it a lovely sparkly frosty feel.

Have fun,
hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

Santas Christmas treat chest.... by Julie Dandy

Well I really need to kick start my Christmas mojo in to gear as I am so disorganised with only being back from my hols less than two weeks!!
I thought I would share this cute idea for an alternative advent calendar which could be decorated to suit all ages.

I have made mine in to a vintage shabby chic style and plan on filling it with little chocolate treats, candy canes and promise tickets - eg. make mince pies, watch a Christmas movie etc...

I used a papier mache chest and covered it with two sheets of Pink Paislee Santas list 12x12 paper.

I started by painting all the edges inside and out with green acrylic paint so that any expose areas wouldn't be left brown.
When dry I painted the edge that is trimmed with red acrylic paint and left to dry again.

I cut the papers roughly to size and then used my nail to give score the paper in to the edges of the box to give me a cutting guide. The boxes aren't exact measurement wise, so make sure your paper is cut to fit the widest points so that you can cut them back to size.I distressed my edges with an emery board and then inked with Broken China distress ink pad then glued them in to place with Glossy Accents - I like to swirl it on then spread it out with my finger so that it reaches all the edges. I like GA for sticking paper on to objects as it grabs and dries quickly.

On the inside of the lid I added a distressed hole in the paper before adhering to the box and stuck a small piece of contrasting patterned paper on to the back to add to the shabby look.

I covered it inside and out and when finished strengthened the hinged section with tissue tape which I also inked with the broken china.

I glued on a piece of vintage lace using Claudine's matte medium - now I have a little tip when using this - make sure you clean the edge of the jar before you put the lid back on. If you don't (like I hadn't) and then don't use it for a while you will have BIG problems getting the lid off!

I also used the medium to stick the charms and prima flower on, as already mentioned its a really good strong glue LOL :D

I embossed some of the pieces with TH alterations embossing folders which I distressed and inked.

My splash of colour on the project is my lovely broken china distress stickles and the distress stain I used on the Adage ticket.

I used some letter stickers I have had for ages on the front of the box and gave them a little bit of dimension with the Glossy Accents. The promise tickets would be a great idea to keep the kids occupied over the Christmas period with ideas like make paper chains, make gingerbread, write a letter to Santa etc...

If you were making it for a crafter you could make little parcels or envelopes and fill them with little embellies - ideaology trinkets would be fabby for anybody taking part in T!ms 12 tags of Christmas. Moira sells fabby taster packs of these too so it needn't cost a fortune.

Or how about filling it with chocolate coins?

If you get cracking you will just have time to make it before the 1st of December :D

Hugs'n'snogs,
Julie xx

An Assortment Of Boxes By Carol Fox

I am seriously in love with these little boxes that Moira has in the shop. I have done a few of them this week as I have had four commissions for these little boxes and I have done a couple for an upcoming Victorian Market I am booked for.
So I am sharing some of them as my DT piece today to show how easy it is to get so many different looks with them just by different paint and stamping techniques.

This box I altered using Glimmer mists and Gold leafing and embossing powder and rubber stamping.

On this one I used a basic cream paint crackled over the plain box using PVA glue, when dry I rubbed over it with Victorian Velvet Distress ink, before adding rubber stamping. Finally spritzing it with Glimmer mists.

This one was simply coloured with Distress stains in Wild Honey and Fired Brick, after rubber stamping I smudged Pitch Black Dabber around the edges to age it a bit.

And lastly my favourite. I used the PVA crackle paint technique on this again, rubber stamping a "spell" around the four sides before embossing in gold. Add the large fairy charm under the pocket watch dome on the lid. The handle is the Pocket watch winder and I have added four fairy crowns for feet on the box.

Items I Used
Small wooden boxes
Small Crowns
Cosmic shimmer mists
Paint Dabbers
Paints
fairy charm
Embossing powders
Distress Stains

Finally don't forget the current challenge is an Explosion of Colour, so if you have made something bright and beautiful this month using any product that the shop stocks have a look at the post on the blog to upload your picture.

Christmas Past .... By Gillian Simson

Using the inspiration from one of my favourite vintage Christmas Stamp Sets by Tim Holtz, I started out by covering this Wooden Door Sign in Distress Stain (Weathered Wood), then added a layer of stripes with Distress Stain (Picket Fence), once dry I then added a further layer of Distress Stain (Faded Jeans) then wiping over with a baby wipe to give a more soft/blended feel to the sign. I stamped the background text in Archival Ink (Manganese Blue), I then stamped the Father Christmas Image, the Snowflake Image and Merry Kiss-Mas quote designed by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique in Distress Ink (Chipped Saphire). I then added Picket Fence Distress Stickles for a frosted/snowy look.

The current Happy Daze challenge is Christmas or Hallowe'en. You have until Midnight on 31st October when one winner will be drawn at random to win a £15 voucher and free P&P to spend in the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person & you must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

• You can enter by blogging your address to the linky widget here,
• emailing your picture to info@happy-daze.net
• uploading your photo to their facebook page